Ments



a citizen of the United States,

CHARLES PLEASANTS MEBANE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO EDWIN C. HENN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CARBON'IZING COMPOUND AND YROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

1,310,918. llTo Drawing.

To all whom itmay concern Be it known that I, CHARLES 'P. MEBANE, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carbonizing Compounds and Processes of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification. v

.This invention relates to an improved process for carburizing steel and has for its general object to accomplish this result in an improved, economical and efficient manner.

A further object is the provision of a carbonizing material or composition of matter whereby this process may be carried out and which after each operation the portion deteriorated is removed and new energizer added.

The carburizing operation as ordinarily conducted consists generally in making a mixture of a carbonaceous material and an energizer such as sodium carbonate, barium carbonate, etc., and in embedding the article to be carburized in this mixture and subjecting the article and the mixture to a temperature which will result in adding to the article the amount of carbon necessary to secure the desired degree of hardness in the outer film or layer of the metal after quenching. At the end of the carburizing operation the greater portion of the material is left unconsumed and may be used in succeeding operations. However, the carbonate will be present in insuflicient quantities to secure a maximum efliciency in the succeeding uses of the mixture as the energizer gradually loses its strength and after a number of usages ceases to act and a large portion of the carbonaceous material has to be thrown away. In some cases new material is added each time it is used. This is to give additional strength and it is true that fair commercial results are obtained. This material, however, commercially speaking, will give about 75% efficiency as compared with new material.

It has been attempted to correct this decreasing elficiency by adding a fresh supply of energizer to the mixture after each succeeding operation. This, however, has been attended with a serious objection that the metal thus treated is very apt to be pitted or spotted while a glassy residue forms in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

boxes eventually filling them up and the carburized parts are not uniform throughout. It has also been proposed to make a mixture of charcoal and an energizer in proper proportions and to keep this mixture on hand; this, however, has been attended with the objection that the agitation of the mixture as through the shaking or jarring of the building by the operation of v machinery, etc., even though slight, is sufficient to separate the heavier energizer and the light carbonaceous matter with the result that the mixture does not remain homogeneous. The energizer accumulating at the lower part or bottom of the receptacle containing the mixture while the carbonaceous matter remaining at the upper part of the said receptacle will in time have practically no energizer mingled therewith.

It is the purpose of this invention to improve the process of carburizing so as to overcome the objections noted herein before while securing the same efliciency in the last carburizing operation as in the first and also to secure these results-in a simple and particularly economical manner. In carrying out my invention I take a quantity of wood suitable for adays work in the particular plant wherein the process may be carried on, said wood being of a size which preferably will pass through a screen having three or four meshes to the lineal inch. This wood is then saturated in a fireproofing solution to which is added an energizer. This fireproofing is obtained for instance by soaking in a fireproofing solution such as silicate of soda, which causes the'wood to char and not burn to ash, and which solution also contains the energizer. After this soaking the wood is then dried and ready for use. This fireproof solution and energizer penetrate the pores of the wood and decrease the shrinkage. That is, wood not treated or fireproofed will shrink in volume about 66=% which would uncover the parts in the carburizing boxes and cause them to scale or otherwise spoil them, whereas fireproofed wood holds its shape very well and is practical to use.

This treated wood is then dried and used as a commercial carburizer.

After taking the carburizing boxes from the furnace and removing the parts carburized, this carburizer is treated with a solution previously made of water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid using about four parts of sodium carbonate-to one of sodium chlorid. The density of this solution should be about 7% Baum but is varied according to the amount of carbon required in the case. Anysuitable apparatus may be used for applying thesolution, such as an old fashioned watering can or other device to sprinkle the fireproofed wood, now charcoal, and hot, with the solutlon. The heat remaining in the charcoal drives off the moisture and the energizer adheres to the charcoal. This adhering is caused by the sudden contraction of the carbonaceous material. The moisture also kills the fire in the charcoal and prevents a big waste.

It will be noted that I do not use any tacky substance nor is the heat in the charcoal sufiicient to fuse the chemicals. After the sprinkling operation a considerable quantit of the fireproofed wood,- now charcoal, Wlll be left, leaving the ener izer in a new, spent and partly spent condltion. If

this mlxture of charcoal and energizer is used 'repeatedly without sprinkling the metal treated thereby will not be as effectively carburized as in the preceding work when the energizer was in a fresh condition, furthermore, the scale of efliciency of the resultant mixture will diminish from operation to operation with a corresponding diminutation in the efficiency of the carburizing accomplished therewith. This condition cannot be corrected as a commercial proposition by adding fresh energizer as the mixing of the fresh energizer with the spent and partly spent energizer results after several operations in spotting or pitting the articles to be carburized also the forming of a glassy substance in the carburizing boxes as well as in lack of uniformity in the carburizing of the articles. This detrimental action is believed to be due to the chemical changes which have been produced in the original energizer. In order to utilize the charcoal and at the same time secure the maximum efliciency in the subsequent re-use of the same or before the partlcular job of carburizing has been complete I sieve the mass of eharcoal and energizer using preferably a mesh sieve. A sieve of this fineness will separate the detrimental spent energizer from the carbonaceous ma' terial leaving the new energizer adhering to the carbonaceous material.

By this process and the carburizing com- POSltlOIl employed the carbonaceous material may be re-used producin the same results as before until complete y consumed and with no substantial waste of material. The very small amount of carbonaceous material and spent'energizer which are discarded by" passing through a sieve of E mesh is ex- 'carburiz r and upon removal from the furnace is treated as before again producing like results.

This method is the only one by which all of the carbonaceous material can be usedwi-thout deterioration or detrimental results. Only the very fine dust and chemicals that would fly in the room are thrown away and it is the only way in which the hardener in charge of the room can regulate the amount of the carbon contents in the case. This latter is done by the density of the solution and the amount of the solution sprinkled on the hot charcoal. v 4

Where 20% or more of the Work is direct quenched, that is removed from the hardem ing boxes at a red heat, and the remainder or less is allowed to cool in the boxes, that portion of charcoal'remaining from the direct quenched operation can be treated with a solution much denser than 7 4 degrees Baum and this mixture added to the wood or charcoal in the proportions to secure the desired results.

Whereas in the case of hardening ball bearings and other work that is cooled in the boxes, none being removed therefrom hot, this process is not practical as thereis no heat in the carbonaceous substance to cause the moisture to evaporate and for material to be used for this purpose the charcoal can be treated in another place and this treated charcoal added to the untreated wood or charcoal using about one part treated to four parts untreated more or less according to the results desired.

The commercial carburizing material on the market reaches the consumer mixed and the man in charge, termed the hardener, has no control over the amount of carbon injected into the case, by this mixture, as this is chiefly regulated by the amount and kind of energizer used and the amount and kind of carbonaceous material employed. With my method the hardener, by varying the specific gravity of the solution or the amount of the solution, the carbon, contents of the case can be increased or decreased at will within limits consistent with good shop practice, as he adds the energizer and has a given carbonaceous material to work on, he can produce any amount of carbon in the case and therefore any degree of hardness.

been found suitable for their requirements.

For example :-In shop practice it may be found that to carbonize at 1650 F.- and I quench direct from the box a suitable core is' the term fireproof, fireproofed or fireproofing in connection with carbonaceous material that has been treated to indicate that it does not shrink in volume when heated as much as it would if not treated, or as much as when bought on the open market. Having thus described my lnventlon what I claim is 1. A composition for the purpose speci fied comprising a mixture of fireproofedcarbonaceous material and an energizer in-- cluding sodium chlorid.

2. A composition of matterfor the purpose specified comprising an intimate mixture of carbonaceous matter treated so as not to have excess shrinkage, an energizer and finely divided carbonaceous material.

3. A composition of matter for the purpose specified comprising fireproofed carbonaceous material, a carbonate and finely divided carbonaceous material, the carbonate being intimately mingled with the carbonaceous material and this mixture bein intimately mingled with the fireproofed carbonaceous material.

4. A composition of matter for the purpose specified comp-rising a mixture of fireproofed carbonaceous material, finely divided, fireproofedcan'bonaceous material and an energizer, the energizer being mingled with and adhering to the fireproofed carbonaceous material. r

"5. A composition of matter for the purpose specified comprising a mixture of two carbonaceous substances either or both of which are fireproofed and an energizer including sodium chlorid. 4

6. A composition of matter for the purpose specified comprising a mixture of tire proofed carbonaceous material sprinkled with a solution containing an energizer, the ingredients being mingled in about the following proportions: Oharcoal 100 parts by weight, energizer 135 parts by weight.

A composition of matter for the pur: pose specified comprising a mixture of carbonaceous material sprinkled with a solution containing sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid being mingled in about the following proportionsz-carbonaceous ma terial 100 parts by weight, carbonate 2-35 parts, by weight, chlorid %-10 parts by .Weight.

8. The process of carburizing which consists in heating the article to be carburized in the presence of a mixture of fireproofed carbonaceous material, sodium carbonate, sodium chlorid and additional carbonaeeous material and then removing the detrimental 'ture t us formed with other fmaterial, heating the article orarticles to be chlorid, and then part of the carbonate and chloridresidue after the operation and adding to the hot charcoal a fresh quantity ofthe solution containing the energizer.

9. The process of preparing. earburizing compositions for use and re-use, which consists in sprinkling a hot carbonaceous material w th a solution containing an energizer including sodium chlorid, mingling the mixture thus formedfwith a spent and pa y carbonaceous mate, P131, a ing the article or articles to be carthe presenceiof the aforesaid mixafter the conclusion of the operation se spent energizer from the carbonaceous .ma-

terial and adding thereto bonaceous material.

'10. The'proc'ess of compositions for-use and r'e-use, which conw1th a solution contaming an energizer. in-

oar ,7 preparing carburizing r sists in sprinkling hot carbonaceous material cludin sodium chlorid, mingling the mixcarbonaceous carburized in the 'presenceof the aforesaid mixture, and after the conclusion "of the aforesaid operation separatin thespent or partly s ent energizer from t e mixture.

11. T e processof preparing carburizing composition for use and re-use, which consists in sprinkling hot charcoal with'a solution containing an energizer including sodium chlorid in about the proportions specified and after the use of such mixture for the carburizing operation again sprinkling and then siftingth'e remaining mass to remove therefrom the detrimental spent or ,partly spent energizer, and thereafter adding to the remainder suflicient wood or charcoal to secure the proper proportions for the succeeding operatic 12. The process of carburizing. metal which consists in heatin the same in a mixture of fireproofed car onaceous material and an energizer.

13. The process of preparing a carburizing composition, which consists in treating wood with a fireproofed solution contaming an energizer including sodium terial.

14. The process of preparing a carburizing composition, which consists in treating a carbonaceous material with a fireproofed solution containing-an energizer, and then drying the so treated material.

15. A composition of matter tor the purgose specified comprising fireproofed sawust and an energizer including sodium chlorid. I

16. The process of preparing a carbonizing material which consists in treating wood by saturating it witha fireproofing material and an energizer.

drying the so treated ma- 17. The process of preparinga carbonizing material which consists in treating sawdust having a fineness adapted to pass through a screen having three or four meshes to the lineal inch by saturating 1t W1th' a fireproofing material and an energizer.

18. The process of preparmg a carbonizing material which consists in treatlng wood by saturating it with a fireproofing material and an energizer, and then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it with a solution of water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid thereby to recnergize it.

19. The process of preparing a carbonlzing material which consists in treating sawdust having a fineness adapted to pass through a screen having three or four meshes to the lineal inch b saturating it with a fireproofing materia and an energizer, and then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it with a solution of water, sodium carbonate and'sodium chlorid thereby to reenergize it.

20. The process of preparing a carbonizing material which consists in treating wood by saturating it with a 'fireproofing material and an energizer, then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it with a solution of water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorld thereby to energize it,

and then retreating it with a similar solu-' tion as occasion requires after use thereof to reenergize it.

21. The rocess of preparing a carbonizing material w ich consists in treating sawdust having a fineness adapted to pass through a screen having three or four meshes to the lineal inch by saturating it with a fireproofing material and an energizer, then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it with a solution of water,

sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid thereby to energize it, and then retreating it with a similar solution as occasion requires after use thereof to renergize it.

22. The process of preparing a carbonizing material which consists in treating wood by saturating it with a fire-proofing material and an energizer, then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it w1th a solution of water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid thereby to energize it, then retreating it with a similar dust of a certain degree of fineness by saturat-ing it with a fireproofing material and an energizer, then when the same has been by use transformed into charcoal, treating it with a solution of .water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid thereby to energize it, then retreating it with a similar solution as occasionrequires after use thereof to renergize it, then sifting it to remove the deteriorated portions thereof, and then adding a new supply of previously treated wood or charcoal.

24:. A carbonizing compound consisting of charcoal sprinkled with a liquid solution of salt.

25. A carbonizing compound consisting of charcoal sprinkled with a liquid solution ofsoda ash and salt.

26. A carbonizing compound consisting of a carbonaceous material havin applied thereto sodium carbonate, salt an water.

' 27. A carbonizing compound consisting in a wood residuum treated with a mixture of soda ash, salt and water in solution.

28. Acarbonizing compound consisting of a fireproofed wood residuum treated with a mixture of soda ash and salt in solution.

29. A carbonizing compound consisting of a fireproofed and energized wood residuum treated with a mixture of soda ash and salt in solution.

. 30. A carbonizing material consisting of a fireproofed and energized wood charcoal treated while hot with water, sodium carbonate and sodium chlorid in solution of water and about four parts of sodium carbonate to about one of sodium chlorid.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this first day of June, 1917.

CHARLES PLEASANTS MEBANE.

Witnesses:

Gno. R. LAMB, W. W. GRA Y.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,310,918, granted July 22, 1919,

upon the application of Charles Pleasants Mebane, of Cleveland, Ohio, for an improvement in Carbonizing Compounds and Processes of Making the Same, errors appear requiring correction as follows: In the granting clause for Edvrin C. Henn, its successors or assigns read Edwin C. Henri, his heirs or assigns; line 9 of the grant and line 2 of the heading to the printed specification strike out the words a Corporation of Ohio 5: and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this: 19th e August, A. 1)., 1919.

[sun] J. 'r. NEWTON,

Oommiseioner of meta. Cl. 148-'30. 

